One More Before the Crazy Starts

Happy Halloween!!!

I thought you might need one more game to fill the time at your Halloween party. This game will keep your little goblins busy for a short time before that great big sugar high starts. For the markers you can use just about anything. All the craft stores have HUGE discounts on little this and that prizes today. Feel free to download and print out these from Artsy Fartsy Mama at the link below. 

Have a safe and fun Halloween day and night!

 http://www.artsyfartsymama.com/2011/10/halloween-bingo-free-printable.html

The Top 10

 Good Morning!

I am a strong believer of art in school, in life, in the world. I found this wonderful article I wanted to share.  It explains some of the benefits of art for our children. When I say art, I mean any form of art. It is not limited to an artist that paints on a canvas, but a  music composer, a stage performer, sculptor, writer, just to name a few.

 Let's celebrate and encourage our children to become all they can be with a little help from the arts. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/01/22/top-10-skills-children-learn-from-the-arts?utm_content=bufferf4bf1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Creating Your Own One of a Kind ATC Backgrounds

 Good Morning!

Yes it's that dreaded time of the week. M O N D A Y.....uugh. But I have a new article that is published and ready to view. If you love Gelli plate printing and ATC this one is for you. Hopefully this will make your Monday a little brighter.

Creating Your Own One of a Kind ATC Backgrounds

Taking Time to Breathe

 

 I am going to start dedicating Sundays as my day to breathe.

In this age of electronic communication, I have to admit that I am getting addicted. If you don't get online you feel like you are missing something. If you don't post on your pages you will lose your audience. Computer is down, we panic. Someone is not answering the phone, well they must be dead.

 I grew up with hippies not cellphones and internet. The time when you could not be reached all day and no one freaked out are long gone. I miss those days.

So, my friends, I'm  going into electronic "rehab" 1 day a week.

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. In a few weeks I should be back to liking if not loving my electronic home again.

You Should Read This!

 Good Morning!

Today I am sharing a great piece by fellow article writer, blogger, teacher, artist, and friend Martice Smith. (Hope I didn't forget anything Martice)  Enjoy!

http://www.mixedmediaart.net/mixed-media-inspiration-2/five-ways-share-creativity-get-discovered

Help Wanted ...... Art Supply Picker Upper Person

Good Morning!

Today I MUST clean up my studio, the dining room table, the floor of the front room, my laundry room, and my front porch. Yes folks it has been a week of artpalooza. I have had so many projects going on I have had to resort to every inch of open space I could find.

There is something wildly exciting when your creativity jumps the rails and takes over. The cleaning up,  not so much. One thing that helps me besides the necessity of being able to get dressed, eat, and making sure the mailman can get to the front door, is the fact that I find things I completely forgot I had.

Well, I better get started before I get totally distracted by some pretty shiny object that is begging to become my next craft victim. lol

You've Finished Up the Champange, Now What?

When the champagne is gone, the creativity begins!

What should I do with this wonderful black champagne bottle? I remember a class that Terri Sproul http://terrisproul.blogspot.com demonstrated awhile back using napkins.You separate the back of the napkin (white sheets) until you are left with a thin tissue like sheet with the image on it. You can use the whole image, or as in this case I cut out a portion of the napkin to use.
Tip: I had to apply several of the same image on top of each other because of the napkin colors and the bottle color. I used PPA to apply the napkin to the bottle. PPA works really well with thin papers like this napkin. Start from the center of the image and work your way to the edges.

After the image was dry, I sponged the bottle with:

DecoArt  Dazzling Metallics dark patina

Color box chalk black pigment ink

Dew drop memento gray flannel dye ink 

Dew drop Brilliance moonlight white 

Dew drop Brilliance cosmic copper 

I finished it with a decorative yarn wrapped around the neck of the bottle. 

Dig through that recycle bin, or better yet drink some champagne tonight so you can make this too!

 #recyclebottles  #DecoArtpaint  #halloweendecoration #skeletondecoration #metalliclookpaint #recyclecrafts

Mark Montano tutorial on handmade papers? Yes please!

Good Morning!

So many great uses for DecoArts Acrylic paints. Mark Montano rocks this one!! I love the intense colors of these handmade papers. #markmontano #decoart  #handmadepaper #decoartacrylicpaint

https://www.facebook.com/DecoArtAcrylicPaints/photos/a.419158156906.194724.104636306906/10152818961746907/?type=1&relevant_count=1

Plain Jane No More

Good Morning!

I have had this chip wood bushel basket around for a while now. I fill it up with Halloween goodies.

I wanted to have that true fall feel. I choose my Americana acrylic paints in Burnt Orange, Chocolate Brown, Marigold, Avocado, and Red Barn in a multi-surface satin for that true fall feel.






 This project took about 1 hour to complete. There was no prep time, and I used 1 coat of each paint. I finished the basket with an Americana Matt spray.

I think that the colors I choose will not only make this basket good for Halloween treats but apples, gourds, and small pumpkins too. My perfect go to basket for fall !
#halloweenbucket  #DecoArt  #fallbasket  #chipwood  #bushelbasket #americanapaint

Happy Dance!!

   

My Blog has just had an amazing color makeover!

Kaiden says this should be published!

Can't believe it's Sunday afternoon already!

Waiting for my adorable grandson to come visit  today.  So today we talk, laugh, bake, play, and create with grandma. Being a grandma is the best!!

 AMACO sent some packages of cloud clay for me to try out a few days ago. It is a very light clay and perfect for younger children. I am going to get an expert opinion, my grandson. We  had a blast with it! We created a snowman ,a tree, handcuffs, and a snake. He gives it a big thumbs up. :)

 He is getting so excited for Halloween. I am going to make a countdown to Halloween calendar for each grandchild next year. I found a few really cute ideas on http://www.tipjunkie.com.  I think I will do one anyway for grandmas house this year.This one will be easy, quick and perfect since Halloween is quick approaching.

Waffles,veggies,and art.... oh my!

Good Morning!
It is too nice of a day to be indoors. Heading over to our local farmers market to soak up the sunshine, pick up some local veggies, be inspired by the artistic creations, and visit my favorite food truck, The Waffle Wagon for a BLT waffle sandwich. They are sooooo good!


REMEMBER.....Tonight is the Scrap Denton Masquerade fundraiser. I will be at the door tonight so I hope to see you there!

Skeletons !

Good Morning!

Today I wanted to spotlight an artist from Sweden who I follow. I absolutely love her work! Here are a few spooky skeleton pieces she did using the DecoArt line. http://angelicasscrap.blogspot.se/

These are tutorials so you know I will be getting out my DecoArt paints and mediums and trying these myself! #Halloween  #DecoArttutorials  #Halloweendecor #remakephonecase

http://angelicasscrap.blogspot.se/2013/07/ohoy.html

Free Fall Printables!

Good Morning!
Summer has returned to Dallas. Can you believe it is going to be 88 degrees today? My pumpkins are going to bake right on the porch!

To remind myself that it really is fall I searched the internet for anything fall related.  Pumpkin lattes, fall leaves, kids in scarfs, and this cute fall printable from inkhappi. These tags are so cute and I can see myself using them in all sorts of ways. Click on the link below to take you to inkhappi's website to see some more ideas and get the download to print.  Enjoy!   #inkhappi #freefallprintable #fallgifttags #printables

http://inkhappi.com/fall-printable-gift-tags/

Happy Mail, Happy World

Good Morning!
For me, mail art is my way of  sharing artwork across the world and another canvas for me to create on. I love the idea of sending an extra little gift to the receiver and a smile to everyone along the way.

I am an article writer for Mixed Media art www.mixedmediaart.net/ 
Today I wanted to share an article from another writer on the team Tamara Dinius. She has some very good information for getting started. Love her pretty envelopes! #mailart

Listen to Your Inner Voice

Good Morning!

Have you ever had one of those days when you are juggling so many projects you feel like you are part of a 3 ring circus? Does your studio look like a robbery gone bad? Has your dining room now become part of your studio? Can you find the cat, your coffee? H E L P!

My inner voice is saying art should never be hurried. Enjoy the process and quit worrying. Life is too short to not enjoy what you are doing. So take a breath and repeat after me ..... worry less, giggle more!

EEEEK!

 Good Morning!

 Just a few weeks till Halloween is upon us. For me it is not Halloween if you don't have at least one or two items that glow in the dark. Here are 25 glowing ideas. Yippie!
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/58817/glow-dark-hacks-must-haves

You can also find more ideas to make you want to get up and dance on my Pinterest page "Everything Halloween"
http://www.pinterest.com/boutiqueunique/everything-halloween/

Falling in Love.....with the Mailman

When the mailman delivers more art supplies to my doorstep than bills, 

it's a love affair in the making. 

Good Morning! 

DecoArt has just sent me a product I have been dying to try out called Ink Effects. Ink Effects are fabric transfer inks that absorb into the fabric for soft, flexible, and washable transfers. Simply paint your design on standard copy paper then use an iron to transfer it onto a light colored wearable or home décor fabric piece. 

I have several projects I will be trying this medium on in the future so stay tuned. Can you guess what my first project will be? #DecoArtinkeffects #irontransfer #homedecor #fabrictransferinks #washabletransfers

The Happy Artist

Good Morning!
I came across this article about 5 habits of  happy artists and wanted to share. I try and live by these everyday but some days we all need a little reminder to help us along.

                                          http://skinnyartist.com/5-habits-of-happy-artists/

 Have a great Saturday and go create something!

Make a Chalky Finish Tray at "Do It Herself" workshop

 
Oh My Gosh! This is a perfect opportunity to learn how to apply Chalky Finish.  Hurry space is limited!

Register now for The Home Depot's "Do It Herself" workshop where you will get to make a Chalky Finish tray and work with metallic paints. October 16th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at your local Home Depot. the event is free but space is limited!!! http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/do-it-herself-workshops

Box Full of Goodies

  My chalky finish paints, creme waxes, and vintage french stencils from DecoArts arrived. YEA!  I cant wait to get started refinishing an old accordion fold screen I have. I will be posting before and after pictures as well as some step by step instructions. I was excited to see that you can use these paints on a variety of surfaces.  Leftover paint...watch out!

The Afternoon of Fall Colors

Taking some time out of the studio today and  going to the Dallas Arboretum and Children's Garden with my grandson. Dallas certainly knows how to deliver fall!

Creating with Creative Paperclay

Good Morning!
Today is the blog hop sponsored by Creative Paperclay.This is my first time playing with this product and had a blast! Stop on by their blog and see what others have created.

http://creativepaperclay.blogspot.com/2014/10/link-up-party.html

My name is Shari and I am a Pinterest Addict

Happy Monday Morning!

I love love love Pinterest! Mondays mornings are the time you will find me oohing and awing over there. Just visit my boards and you will see my addiction. www.pinterest.com/boutiqueunique
 
This morning I found this cute idea for up-cycling a vintage ashtray into a jewelry display. It was pinned from the blog "A Vintage Artist".  She has a lot of other great ideas to showcase her jewelry and marketing materials.  #upcycle #displays #pinterest #monday

 http://terahware.blogspot.co.nz/2011/05/finding-upcycled-jewelry-display.html

                                             

Making Masquerade Masks

 Masquerade mask and decoration work party happening at Scrap Denton today between 2-4 pm. 

https://www.facebook.com/scrapdenton

Today is a volunteer day for me!

I find it very rewarding to give my time to a good cause that I strongly believe in.  The people I volunteer with are amazing, positive souls and am so grateful that this opportunity came my way. SCRAP inspires creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by offering educational programs and affordable materials to the community.

#masquerademasks #scrapdenton #fundraisers #creativereuse

This is one of the masks that I created last year.

Almost Time To Hop

 Good Morning!

On October 7th I will be part of  a blog hop Creative Paperclay is sponsoring. Creative Paperclay is a non-toxic modeling material that can be sculpted, molded or shaped, and air dries (no baking!) to a hard finish that can be carved, or sanded - perfect for artists and crafters of all kinds! I am really enjoying working with this medium.

So come on back to my blog this coming Tuesday the 7th and see what I have made. Then go check out Creative Paperclay's blog and see what other have created.
 # creativepaperclay #halloweenbloghop

                                 https://www.facebook.com/events/340210562824299/

Time for a Swap With My Creative Buddies

There are many groups you can join on Facebook. Today I want to share my favorite creative group,The Enchanted Imaginarium. 

This group of artists are family. We share art, techniques, ideas, life and friendship. It is a no judgement zone and welcomes artists of all skill levels.

Deb  Combs of  Peculiarme71 is our fearless leader.   http://peculiarme71.blogspot.com/ 

                                                                                  

Look what went out in the mail yesterday. These altered trading cards (ATC) are part of an art swap through The Enchanted Imaginarium.#ATC #halloween

Holiday Decorations out of Recyled Wood

So far this is one of my favorite fall recycle projects I have done.

To view my article and how to make these, click on the link and it will

take you to the Mixed Media Art website.

http://www.mixedmediaart.net/mixed-media-techniques/halloween-decorations-recycled-wood
#halloweendecorations #recycle #diy

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Good Evening!
Getting ready to watch my favorite TV show (Scandal) but wanted to share one of the gift projects I worked on today using DecoArt products. Today my world was all about pink. Pink lemonade, pink fabric, and pink paint. 

I decorated this wooden letter with DecoArt Americana in Bubblegum Pink and Lamp Black.  I also used DecoArt Glamour Dust in Celebration Pink for the polka dots. Every girl needs a little bling! The finishing touch was the hombre bow.

New from DecoArt

I am so excited to see that DecoArt has a new line of products

You may have seen this flying off the shelves at your local craft store.The Americana Decor chalky finish is something I will be using to upcycle an accordion fold screen I found while garage sale hunting.
There are so many colors to choose from. As always there are video instructions that will walk you through the process.Click on the link and see all the things you can do with this exciting new product.

http://decoart.com/chalkyfinish/